Discover the historical richness of Peralada by exploring the Convent of Sant Bartomeu and former Castle. In 1390, the Viscount of Peralada, Felip Dalmau de Rocabertí, granted a plot north of the parish church to the community of Augustinian canonesses of Sant Bartomeu de Bell-lloc to build a convent. This convent remained active until the 1970s and has now been transformed into residential buildings.
The archaeological excavations of 1989 unveiled two crucial findings. Firstly, the remains of the former viscount’s castle, a Carolingian fortress known as Castro Tolon, which was destroyed in 1285 during the war between Kings Pere el Gran and Felip l’Ardit. Secondly, the only known remains so far of the wall of an Iberian oppidum from the 5th-3rd centuries BCE, belonging to the early inhabitants of this region. This oppidum eventually became, over a millennium later, the site where the town of Peralada was erected.
Delve into this fascinating blend of history, from the ancient Carolingian ruins to the remnants of the early Iberian settlers. The Convent of Sant Bartomeu and former Castle is a tangible witness to the past that enriches Peralada’s cultural identity.
- Carrer Costa del Rector, 17491 Peralada, Catalunya Espanya42º18'30''N 3º0'30''E